Scaife was signed in August 1936 and turned professional in May 1937. An experienced
Amateur player, he played mostly at left-back in the Reserves. Leeds were well served for
full backs in his first two seasons, with Bert Sproston and Jack Milburn the regular pairing
and George Milburn their deputy. But after Sproston and George Milburn were transferred Ken
Gadsby and Les Goldberg emerged. He played all of his senior games for Leeds in 1938-39, the
last full season before the war. In those games he played three at left-back and six as
right-back. After Jack Milburn gave way, he and Ken Gadsby became the United full-back
pairing in the latter days before the war and but for the war they would probably have
remained the United first choice with Les Goldberg for cover. During the war he served in
the Army and played twice for Leeds. He played his first game as a Wartime guest at Left Back
in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship) on 6th April 1942 in a
1-6 loss to Halifax Town at The Shay and his second came at Right Back in the 1942-43 Football
League Northern Section (First Championship) in a 1-7 loss to Newcastle United at Elland Road.
He also guested for several other clubs, making two appearances for Bradford City and seven
for York City in the 1939-40 season. In 1940-41 he payed once for Arsenal and fourteen games
in the League and three in the Cup for Fulham. He went back to Craven Cottage for two further
games with Fulham in the following season of 1941-42, when he also played once for Crystal
Palace and eight times for Millwall. In 1942-43 he returned to play twice more for Crystal
Palace and five more for Millwall. In July 1944 he was seriously injured in an accident, while
on duty in Scotland, and his football career came to an end. He died at Bradford in June 1990.